Travelling to Toronto

     Brainstorming your next vacation? Start planning ahead to the warmer months and head north of the New Jersey border to Toronto.

     In the heart of Toronto are the CN Tower, the Hockey Hall of Fame and little gems like the St. Lawrence Market. With a great night life of bars and music venues at almost every corner, this is the perfect getaway for any college vagabond or foodie! What’s great about a trip to Toronto is that everything can be done during a long weekend. With the holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. and President’s Day approaching, take advantage of this affordable and doable vacation.

Tips for Planning:

     1.Bring 4-5 friends along. Most hotels in the middle of Toronto offer a suite style room with a king sized bed and a pull out couch. If you divide it up between all of you, the costs go down!

     a.Bond Place Hotel ranges to $85- 100 a night, depending on when you book the room. For a three night stay, that will add up to $60 for lodging and breakfast.

     b.Strathona Hotel ranges from $90-100 per night for a suite style room. That’s also about $60 a night!

     2.Drive to Toronto. Make it a road trip! Good music, good beer and good company. That’s all you need for a great trip. While you’re in Toronto you can stop by Niagara Falls.

     Do the math when it comes to car expenses. Whatever the total comes up to, take half of it and add it to the lump sum. So, if gas costs $300 add another $150 to make it a total of $450. It’s better to have more than not enough! $450 divided by 5 is $90 each for gas.

     3.Pocket money. The CN Tower and the Hockey Hall of Fame are rounded to $80 add another $200 for food and other expenses. 

The total would be $350 per person if you were travelling with five people. 

Let’s add another $75 for miscellaneous costs and that’s a total of $425.

This is what I did:

I stayed at the Fairmont Royal York with these lovely ladies!

We went to the CN Tower, which was just a 10 minute walk away from our hotel. 

We went to the Distillery District....

Stopped by the Hockey Hall of Fame and played games!

I answered a question right and got to pull the whistle lever!

Went to Steam Whistle Brewery for a tour, with complimentary beer!

Next to the brewery is the CN Tower, we took a picture with our five-minute friends.

Coincidentally the CNE fair was the same weekend...we ate a lot of poutine. 

If you go, you have to get it! #noragrets

Our last meal in Toronto was the Bison Burger, it was delicious!

Happy travels, vagabonds!

Get Lost to be Found

     Hello fellow vagabonds! Sorry I haven't posted in the past few weeks, the rush of midterms and the homestretch of the semester has gotten the best of me but no worries, I'm back in the swing of travel, leisure and things alike. I think many of you guys can relate to a mid-college crisis, so let's talk travel, life and getting lost.

      Lately, I've been thinking, is a mid-college crisis a thing? The answer is yes, or well, that's what I believe. 

     Throughout high school I was set on my life plan for the next 10 years. I took all of the classes I needed to, allied health, AP classes for biology and chemistry and I even volunteered at hospitals. Back then, I wanted to be a nurse. So as I sent all my of college applications, I would declare my major as nursing. I got accepted into the nursing program at William Paterson University and last minute, I switched to undeclared. My parents thought I was nuts and for a while, I thought I was too. After a semester, I declared myself as a public relations and journalism major. It was a total 180 turn. 

     All I knew was school and school was something I was good at. I was going through a self-epiphany phase and I still am! 

     So, I decided to look back to the last time I was happiest, no worries or deadlines. I reminisced the summer before junior year in high school when I went to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. At that time I was in my fourth year of taking German classes and so I packed my bags with a few classmates and Frau and boarded a plane to the first stop, Vienna!

    I learned a lot about myself, about the things that I enjoy, the things I don't but most importantly the things that I want to be a part of my life. That was the first time I put myself in a place outside my comfort zone. I was placed in a new culture and it brought a new insight to life. 

    You would think that by the time you reach your senior year in college, you would have things planned for your future, wrong! If only it was that easy. I still find myself doubting decisions, but everything happens for a reason and unexpectedly. Travelling is more than just sight-seeing or bragging rights. Travelling is about putting yourself out there in hopes to find another missing piece of yourself. That's why I love travelling. 

     Think of it as a life-long scavenger hunt. Each leads you to the next clue. 

     Sometimes the best way to figure out what you like and what you don't like is to just pack up your bags and go. Living a routine life gets stagnant, so, change the pace up and travel somewhere bold. 

     My advice if you're feeling a little lost? Get lost to be found.

     Experience different cultures, get lost in the moment and in the end find a little piece of yourself. 

     Coming up next on The College Vagabond, "Travelling in Toronto!" 

Graduation Gifts: EF College Tours

     My college commencement is right around the corner, so why not reward myself after all of those years of hard work.

     To my fellow vagabonds: You certainly deserve it a pick-me-up vacation. Think big or stay home!

     These next trips are more costly than the other ones I have posted but it’ll be worth it.
      

     Four countries in 10 days, why not? Why not three countries in seven days?

     There are travelling agencies that organize a trip for just college students. You won’t have to worry about the age group, hotels or airplane tickets. You don’t even have to think twice about the tourist activities! They literally do everything for you.

     Your job?—

     Show up and have fun.

     Check out these vacations with hotels, flights booked, breakfast and dinner included! You can have your cake and eat it too. I want to give a special shout out to EF College Tours for providing these awesome packages! To check out the itinerary, click on the links embedded in the text. 

     London,Paris and Rome: $2,959 for 12 days.

     London,Paris and Barcelona: $2,799 for 12 days.

     Tour of Italy: $2,989 for 12 days.

     Berlin,Prague and Munich: $2,649 for 11 days.

     Amsterdam, Paris and London: $2,699 for 10 days.

     Germany,Italy and Switzerland: $2,539 for 10 days.

     Tour of Ireland: $2,369 for 9 days.

     London and Paris: $2,309 for 8 days.

     Experience Germany and Oktoberfest: $2,029 for 6 days.

     Happy planning, vagabonds! May the prices be ever in your favor. 

      

    

Weekend Trip: Chicago

     Let’s face it, as college students we have little to no time to ourselves. But when you find a weekend you can salvage, why not take a mini vacation? Take Thanksgiving break for instance, instead of Black Friday shopping, travel somewhere new!

     These estimated prices are for a road trip from New Jersey to Illinois, so bring three-four friends along and divide up the costs. The more the merrier!

     Food ($80): Cut the cost of food by packing sandwiches, drinks and snacks. Make a grocery list and divide up the costs. Cold cuts, loaves of bread, cheese, chips and juice pouches are the way to go!

     Car Maintenance ($200-300): Look up how many miles you’ll be travelling. Estimate the costs of gas round trip, to be safe, add another $20 per person. Know how to change a tire. Things happen on the road when you least expect it, because that’s life and sometimes life…well, will give you a flat tire. Don’t rely on strangers driving by to help you change a tire! Make sure someone has a car service like AAA, it’s always best to be prepared!

     Personal Costs ($100 per person): Be sure to do your research. Make sure you know the costs of entrance fees for any tourist attractions, check if they have student discounts or special offers.  

     If you travel with four friends, the total cost minus the hotel is $195, so let’s make that a solid $200 for a trip to Chicago, not bad, eh?

     For lodging purposes you have two options: A hostel or hotel. Take your pick!

     Some people are a little weary about staying in hostels but think of it as a dorm room. If you are travelling with four people, you can rent out a group room that houses 4-6 people.

     ISHP Chicago: This hostel houses a lot of international travelers. For $75 a night, you and your friends can rent out a fourbed room and a shared bathroom. It also includes free wireless internet, breakfast and group events like Bar Crawl!

     If you decide to stay in a hotel, don’t narrow your search to Chicago hotels. Hotels that are conveniently located have skyrocketed prices. Since you are on a road trip you have the freedom of driving. Check out hotels that are 45 minutes away. It may be an extra drive but if you’re cost conscious it’ll be worth it!

My Chicago Road Trip:

     This past June, my two friends and I decided to take a road trip from New Jersey to Illinois. We thought of the idea on a Monday and the following Sunday, we hopped into the car and drove west. In total I spent $300 for three days and two nights.

A snippet from our trip, good music helps during the night drive!

     

     It was about a 13 hour drive including our car breaks. That might seem long, but my motto is, "Surround yourself with good company and you'll have a good time." I went with friends that I have known since kindergarten! 

     Now, one good thing to take into consideration is that there are other people travelling with you. So, all of us picked a place to take pit stops at.

     Our first stop was the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

This is Chris...

     Then we jammed out at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 Saw some stellar sights from the Willis Tower.

In Chicago you have to eat deep dish pizza. It was delicious!

We took a stroll in Millennium Park.

Met legendary, Michael Jordan... Well, his statue, that is. 

Julian is the corner!

And we stayed in a hotel in Indiana!

Travel Tip Tuesday: 6 Ways to Save for Your Next Vacation

     Let’s talk money.

     The first thing about travelling is to research the costs. The second thing?

     Save money.

     I’ve had a job since I was 16-years-old, so I’ve become accustomed with saving as I go. With bills to pay and everyday living expenses, saving money can seem impossible. So here’s what I did!

    Save spare change: At the end of the day, put your change in a travel jar. Even the pennies! Over the course of a few months you can save up to $100. After 6 months of doing this, exchange it at a bank or at a coin star. You’ll be surprised what spare change can add up to!

     Shop within your means: This is coming from an ex-shopaholic. I went to the mall at least once a week in high school, looking back on it, I had quite the addiction. It’s simple as this, buy only what you need. If it’s not broken, don’t get a replacement.

    Before your go grocery shopping make a list. Look at what’s on sale for the week and base your meal plans off of them. That list is your only mission. If you browse around, you’ll be tempted to pick up things you don’t need.

     Pick up an “every-now-and-then” job: I like kids, so I picked up an occasional babysitting job. Parents are willing to pay for good babysitters! After all, you’re taking care of their kids. A bonus?— You get to see what parenting skills work and don’t work.

    If you play a sport, pick up an assistant coaching job! You get paid to do something you enjoy. Who could ask for more? I was an assistant coach for my old high school. 

    Retail stores are always looking for seasonal employees, work one day every weekend and get those checks directly deposited into your bank account.

     Tithe into your bank account: Tithing is a term used in Christianity but the concept can help you save money for your next trip! Every week put money into your savings account. It can range from $5 a week to $50. Put aside a practical amount. Don’t be too ambitious, spending within your means also means saving within your means.

     Vision Board: Create a vision board of your vacation and hang it in a place you will always see it. Use it as a constant reminder of why you are saving.

     Pick-up more hours: If you have a part-time job, let your co-workers and boss know that you are looking for extra hours. You can be the go-to person for picking up shifts. We all work with someone that likes to call out of their shift, sweep in a save the day and make money while you’re at it. You get brownie points with your boss and you can add that extra money to your savings. 

Travel Tip Tuesday: Surf the Couch

     

     You can surf the web, surf the waves and surf on couches. Yeah, that’s right, you can surf on couches.

     What am I talking about?

     I’m talking about couchsurfing.org, a website for the adventurous soul.

     My co-worker, Brittany, happens to be a good friend of mine and knows that I love traveling. 

     She was giving a tour to prospective transfer students and started talking with this 25-year-old transfer student. It’s amazing what you can find out about a person. This transfer student took a break after community college and just wanted to travel, so she did. In the past five years she has traveled to 40 different countries. Naturally, Brittany asked how she paid for it.

     The transfer student answered, “I would come home and work my butt off. Then I would take time off to travel. You can’t live life scared.”

     When Brittany told me in the office we were so inspired we made accounts for ourselves.

     So, how does it work?

     First you have to sign up to become a part of the couch-surfing community. From there you fill out a profile. It’s almost like a dating site but instead of finding your significant other, you’re trying to find the perfect house and couch to crash on.

     Here’s the deal, people who are a part of the online community have three options, to be the traveler, the host or even both.

     It’s really simple. Once you complete your profile you can start surfing for couches. On the top of the webpage you’ll find “surf,” click it. It will then bring you to a page where you can start planning your home away from home. You indicate where you want to go, how many people you are travelling with, for how long and give a brief description of why you are going. Your details will match you up with hosts that are available and you can start making arrangements.

     This is an awesome solution for traveling on a budget because it’s free. Your fellow couch surfers are just as adventurous as you are! All you have to do is pay for your flight, pocket money and pack your bags.

     If you are interested in hosting, you have to complete your profile and must have a background check done. Background checks on this website costs about $25 plus tax.

Couch-Surfing Tips:

     Legitimize. Make sure your host is legit. Is there any missing information?

     Travel in numbers. Let’s face it. You can’t trust everyone in the world. Travel with a couple of friends. Remember, there is power in numbers.

     Communicate. The chances are that there have been other people who have crashed on the host’s couch before you. Most likely they’ll leave a review. Get into contact with them and ask questions that might concern you. Reviews and comments cannot be deleted by the host, whatever couch surfers say, stays.

    Tell your family and friends. Give your family and friends every detail of your stay. Where you are going, who your host is, provide them with the conversation you had with your host, tell them everything! The more details, the better, it gives them something to work with. 

Fly Like a Bird, Flock to the South: Vacations Under $600

    

     

     Are the cloudy skies and cold weather bringing you down?

     Hang in there vagabonds, winter break is approaching soon.  Look forward to something warm, soothing and tasteful. No, I’m not talking about pumpkin lattes, I’m talking about your 2014 winter vacations! 

    My go-to site for cheap travel expenses is cheapcaribbean.com. They offer insanely cheap deals. If you don't believe me check them out for yourself! I promise, I wouldn't lie. Links to the website offers are embedded in the resort name. Now, enough of my rambling.

     Where to go next?

Puerto Rico

     For those vagabonds travelling from the United States with no passport, this is perfect place to go. Since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth nation, U.S. citizens don’t need a passport. Instead, they need an official photo issued ID, like your driver’s license!

How much?

     Caution: These next three offers are not all-inclusive.

     El San Juan Resort & Casino: 4 nights for $549 with air

     Condado Plaza Hilton: 4 nights for $539 with air

     Gran Melia Golf Resort Puerto Rico: 3 nights for $379 with air

Riviera Maya

     History lovers are going to love this Mexico vacation. You can submerge yourself into Mayan history and visit amazing architect sites. 

How much?

     Catalonia Riviera Maya: 4 nights with air, all-inclusive for $579

     Ocean Maya Royale: 4 nights with air, all-inclusive for $569

     Occidental Grand Xcaret: 4 nights with air, all-inclusive for $589 

Dominican Republic

     

     Love baseball? With warm weather all-year-round, baseball takes place in the winter too. There's no limitations when it comes to the love of the sport. While you're down there, why not watch a baseball game in the Dominican Republic?

How Much?

     Grand Bahia Principe La Romana: 5 nights with air, all-inclusive for $569

     Riu Bambu: 4 nights with air, all-inclusive for $589

     Iberostar Hacienca Dominiscus: 4 nights with air, all-inclusive for $589